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Nassau County Deputy killed after being hit by a car while chasing a suspect

A Nassau County deputy was killed Tuesday morning while chasing a man on foot across County Road 200 at Chester Road, according to Sheriff Bill Leeper.

The incident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. after U.S. Border Patrol agents questioning four people in a pickup truck at the Gate gas station asked two deputies to help. When one of the men Border Patrol were trying to question ran, the deputies followed. The first officer made it across, but Deputy Eric Oliver was hit by an SUV. He died at the scene.

Oliver, 32, who joined the Sheriff’s Office after serving five years in the Navy, leaves behind a 6-year-old daughter. Leeper said he promoted Oliver from corrections officer to patrol deputy in March 2014.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the accident that caused Oliver’s death. The 45-year-old Yulee woman driving the Kia that struck the deputy stopped and cooperated with troopers.

Leeper said Oliver recently got divorced and both he and his ex-wife have family in Nassau County. He said the Sheriff’s Office has received an outpouring of love and support from people and local businesses have dropped off food for deputies and other law enforcement personnel working the case.

It deeply saddens the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office to report the passing of Deputy Eric Oliver in the line of duty. Deputy Oliver was assisting the United States Border Patrol when a suspect fled on foot. Deputy Oliver gave chase across State Road 200, when he was struck by a passing motorist.
In honor of his service to this agency and our community, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office and other public safety partners will be escorting Deputy Oliver’s remains to Oxley Heard Funeral Home in Fernandina Beach between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. The escort will proceed East on State Road 200 from Interstate 95 to Oxley Heard Funeral Home. Anyone in the community wishing to pay their respects are encouraged to do so from parking areas along this route